/ˈnæʃ/
OriginFrom Middle English gnasten. Origin unknown; the word is probably either Germanic or onomatopoeic. Compare Old Norse gnastan, Danish gnaske ("munch", "crunch"), German knirschen, German Low German gnirschen, gnörschen (“gnash”), Swedish gnissla (“squeak; gnash”).
- transitiveTo grind (one's teeth) in pain or in anger.
- transitiveTo grind between the teeth.
“to gnash the air in fury”
“The dog was gnashing a carpet”
- figurativelyTo clash together violently.
“There they were, boiling up in snowy spouts of spray, smiting and gnashing together like the gleaming teeth of hell.”
- GeordieTo run away.
- A sudden snapping of the teeth.
Formsgnashes(present, singular, third-person) · gnashing(participle, present) · gnashed(participle, past) · gnashed(past) · gnashes(plural)